Murphy Hugh Harrison was born on September 20, 1993 and passed from this life into the next on February 4, 2021.

Hugh was welcomed into Heaven by great-grandparents Hubert and Willie Mae Wiggins Harrison and M.C. and Carrie Lee Waller Anderson, and grandparents Floyd Harrison, Marie Patterson Harrison, and Wade and Jo Anna Anderson Hill. Hugh has also been reunited with his erstwhile spleen, known as Cousin Carl.

Hugh’s memory will be kept alive by his parents James and Susan (Cis) Hill Harrison, sister and brother-in-law Ashley and Jason Shudan, brother and sister-in-law Henry and Georgeann Harrison, special great-aunt and uncle Betty and Jack Baker, niece and nephew Kimber and Wade Harrison, aunts and uncles Andy and Mary Hill, Lou and Traci Hill, Lori and Cecil Harrison, and Stanley and Joyce Durham, surrogate brother Hooch Hope, and a lot of cousins and extended family and even more friends.

Hugh was known by many names. Hughbert, Hughber-Doober, Hugh Boy, Biggin, Murphster, Uncle Hu Hu. A Momma’s Boy. Hard worker. Social butterfly. Gentle giant. Happy-go-lucky. Son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin. Friend. You may also remember him as half of the famous Donnie and Doug duo, Carlton the Fillmore Gardens maintenance man, or perhaps even by another name, as he was fond of buying second-hand work uniform shirts at the flea market and wearing them around with the original owner’s name on the chest. Many cows were sacrificed so his 16 EEEE “Extra Wide” boots could be custom ordered from Texas.

Hugh was a big guy with a big heart to match- and that heart was made of gold. Hugh never met a stranger and would do anything to help his friends or anyone in need. His big smile, which you rarely saw him without, lit up his whole face and was framed by his dimples. He could light up a room. He was a genuine guy, and in his own words “you know me. Blunt and honest.” It’s a shame if you never received a hug from Hugh because no one gave better hugs than him – you were completely wrapped up in love and support. He loved his family and his friends, his community, and kids, and was a great Uncle Hu Hu, always ready to “lift us up REALLY HIGH Uncle Hu Hu.”

As a child, Hugh was the happiest playing in the dirt with his toy tractors and trucks. As an adult, he just traded in those toys for big-boy toys. Honestly, he was just a really big kid. He lived life wide open and took joy in simple things. He loved diesel trucks and rolling smoke- his philosophy was that if you didn’t have to turn off your truck to order at a drive-thru, you were doing it wrong. You could hear him coming when he turned the last curve on Rausin Road on the way home and you’d think “ahhh…here comes Hugh.” He also enjoyed riding side-by-sides with his friends. But, really, you could never tell what he’d be driving the next time you saw him because he constantly traded and bartered and swapped. Hugh worked at Erosion Solutions where he made many friends and got to have fun operating heavy equipment.

Hugh was a member of Philadelphia First Baptist Church and also attended Watson’s Chapel Baptist Church. Hugh gave his life to Jesus as a young boy and was an example to us all of what it means to love thy neighbor as thyself. He liked old-time gospel music. Really, he liked all music- he loved to sing karaoke and had recently started a DJ business. He’s singing with the angel band now, no doubt. He liked to have a good time and help other people to have fun- he loved the Fourth of July and other holidays. The bigger the party the better. You had to be careful around him, though, because he was fond of making videos or pictures of you on the sly to embarrass you with later.

Hugh was a giver, and his last gift was to donate his eyes. We hope that someone will get a new outlook on life and see the world through Hugh’s eyes now- because he only saw the best in people. Hugh was an enthusiastic participant in the annual Smokin’ Up the Valley fundraiser that benefitted East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. If you’d like to make a donation to honor Hugh’s life and memory, please direct it to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (and please think about doing this instead of sending flowers). You can make a donation at www.etch.com/ways-to-give/make-a-donation/; please indicate it is a Tribute Gift in memory of Hugh Harrison and that notifications should be made to Ashley Shudan.

Hugh’s family greatly appreciates the tremendous outpouring of love and support we have received. What a testimony to the man Hugh was and the life he led. Don’t stop telling his stories.

Hugh, we love you. We miss you. We will see you again.

Services honoring and remembering Hugh Harrison will be held 7:00 PM Monday, February 8th in the sanctuary of Philadelphia First Baptist Church. Rev. James Harrison and Rev. Brian Courtney will officiate. Interment 11:00 AM Tuesday, Feb. 9th in Roberson Cemetery. The family will receive friends 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM prior to the service at First Baptist Church, 606 Church St. in Philadelphia, TN. McGill Click Funerals & Cremations, 1366 Hwy 72 N. in Loudon, TN. www.mcgillclick.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Murphy Hugh Harrison please visit our Tribute Store.